Reader weighs in on minimum wage

Pointing a finger at the successful, "Grass Roots Groups" are demanding a $15/hr minimum wage to help victims of the economic downturn who are forced to seek minimum wage jobs.

Entry level wages are paid to employees to train them in basic work skills, ethics, and responsibilities, with the hope that each employee will become an asset, not a liability.

Are minimum wage workers better off making $9/hr vs. $7/hr? The response I'm getting is "No, I'm working fewer hours, paying more for the stuff I need, and in a higher tax bracket!"

Have you taken a spouse or business associate out for a sit down lunch and paid less than $20? Stayed at a hotel lately? Know of a business that closed up shop recently?

At a local Burger King I recently purchased a small Whopper combo meal that cost me $7.39. Three years ago that same meal cost $3.29. At this rate, if minimum wage is jacked up to $15/hr, will you pay $18-$20 for the same meal?

Want to save by purchasing more at the market? Bought a loaf of bread, a pound of coffee or a pack of cookies lately? Ever wonder why that half gallon of ice cream is now 1.5 quarts?

Businesses can only absorb cost increases for so long before passing these costs to the consumer. Increased costs have a ripple effect throughout the entire economy that results in a higher cost of living, more taxes, and lower expendable income. Eventually resulting in a cry for an increase in minimum wage!

Does the 2+ year employee/manager, making more than minimum wage, get an equivalent pay raise? Can employers demand more work out of workers with a pay increase?

Stop this madness before more businesses go out of business!

Dave Cerul,

Moses Lake